Team tennis: Stratford has high hopes

By JEREMY RAKES, CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Published 5:40 pm, Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Photo: L. Scott Hainline

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Stratford tennis head coach Rory Frazee (in sunglasses facing camera) talks with his girls doubles team of Carlene Leyden (far left) and Lucy Herrera (red in hair with back to camera) at the UIL State Tournament in Austin on May 7, 2007. Also pictured is Stratford assistant coach Tom Courson (far right in hat). The Stratford girls fell to Corpus Christi Carroll's Jacquelyn Garza and Megan Garcia 6-4, 6-2 in the Class 5A state quarterfinals at the University of Texas Penick-Allison Courts. less

Stratford tennis head coach Rory Frazee (in sunglasses facing camera) talks with his girls doubles team of Carlene Leyden (far left) and Lucy Herrera (red in hair with back to camera) at the UIL State ... more

Photo: L. Scott Hainline

Team tennis: Stratford has high hopes

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The Stratford team tennis squad knows how good it can be.

The biggest obstacle standing in its way for the Spartans to be how good it wants to be is the Class 4A powerhouse in its district, Montgomery.

After finishing behind Montgomery in District 17-4A and falling in the regional semi-finals, the Spartans know that in order to win the district and make it to state, they will have to dethrone Montgomery.

"It's a little too early to tell about Montgomery, but they are the team to beat," said Stratford head coach Rory Frazee "They appear to be the top team in the region again. We are going to try and improve on the results we had last year."

The Spartans have already played a couple matches this season, including a 16-3 win over Brenham in late August.

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High expectations: A year after falling in the region semi-finals, the Spartans have a goal of at least getting back to the semis if not the region title match.

Montgomery is No. 1 obstacle: Standing in the Spartans way will be 4A powerhouse Montgomery, who won district and region last year.

Leaders: Cameron Long and Nick Butler lead the boys' side, while Malerie Edwards, Jessie Hall and Allison Whitesell lead the girls' side.

Frazee said the goal for the Spartans is to finish in the top four in the region and make it to the semi-finals round or better.

"We got to the regional semis last year, so we want to get at least there this year," he said. "If we get to the region finals, we know we will probably play Montgomery for the region title. We know we will have to play Montgomery in either the region semis or finals."

"We're young, and the girls have gotten better," Frazee said. "Edwards was a junior varsity finalist last year, and Hall and Allison are two of a few girls we have that are a year older and will help us out."

On the boys' side, the Spartans are led by Cameron Long, the boys' No. 1, and Nick Butler Frazee said Long has an injury, but he will be a key to the team if he can get healthy.

"Our guys are stronger than last year, but we still have questions marks," Frazee said. "Cameron is our biggest question mark, but Nick won the JV individual title last year, and he is doing well right now. We expect big things from him."

Frazee said Stratford, who was ranked No. 16 in the state last season, is still trying to figure things out, but they feel good about the season.

"Each year brings a new story," Frazee said. "We have new talent on the boys' side, but the best way to answer our questions is to get everyone out there playing. We are seeing who plays well together and match everything up still. Our goal right now is to get ready for the district and regional playoffs. We know exactly what we have to do. Everything is building toward getting out of the region and to state."